Real name: Jimmy McCoy
A.K.A.: Red
First Appearance: Batman I#4 (Winter 1940)
Abilities: Gangster
Weapons: guns
Quotes: "I'm not going to jail anymore! You're a little too late!"
Worst Act: Being labeled public enemy#1 must have warranted something
Created by: Bill Finger (writer) and Bob Kane (artist-credited), Jerry Robinson/George Roussos(inks)
We spend most the story on Jimmy McCoy and his rise from low level punk to gang lord. A series of pranks ends with him going to reform school, which only teaches Jimmy how to be better crook, but only to extent. His next caper gets him a year in prison, which teaches him more, but he gets picked up on tax evasion next.
Out after ten years, Jimmy wants to retake the streets. The problem is that while he was away, crime continued. "Big" Costello has moved into Jimmy's old rackets and taken most of his old gang. Jimmy aims to settle the score and make himself the big man once again.
Pretty good, although Batman and Robin come across as more extras than anything else. This particular yarn could just as easily been told in any 'Crime Does Not Pay' mags that were sold at the time.
Real name: Thatch
A.K.A.:
First Appearance: Batman I#4 (Winter 1940)
Abilities: Pirate captain
Weapons: guns, saber
Quotes: "Ho-ho What a prize catch this is!"
Worst Act: Piracy
Created by: Bill Finger (writer) and Bob Kane (artist-credited), Jerry Robinson/George Roussos(inks)
A fairly weak character and story. A pirate shows up and attacks a yacht, robbing the people and holding them hostage. Batman and Robin show up, they fight, and Blackbeard is exposed as a run of the mill gangster.
Which begs the question of why go to all the trouble? He and his men are dressed as your stereotypical pirates (cutlasses and all), but he makes no effort to pass himself as the legendary Blackbeard. If his goal was pure robbery, why bother with the dress up?
Real name: Daniels
A.K.A.:
First Appearance: Batman I#3 (Fall 1940)
Abilities: Gang ringleader
Weapons: guns
Quotes: "So, you ratted to the Batman, eh 'Pockets'! I'll teach ya to double cross me!"
Worst Act: Murder
Created by: Bill Finger (writer) and Bob Kane (artist-credited), Jerry Robinson/George Roussos(inks)
Another Robin feature. While Gotham is plagued by yet another gang, Batman discovers this one uses kids as a members. Sending Robin undercover ferrets out the big man-Big Boy Daniels.
Daniels is fairly plain. He's yet another gangster, and the kids as criminals bit isn't even a year old. Repeating storylines isn't unique to comics
Real name: Carlson
A.K.A.: Larry Larrimore
First Appearance: Batman I#3 (Fall 1940)
Abilities: Chemical master
Weapons: chemical cocktails of unknown ingredients
Quotes: "So, my face is ugly to you!"
Worst Act: Murder
Created by: Bill Finger (writer) and Bob Kane (artist-credited), Jerry Robinson/George Roussos(inks)
An interesting villain. While we've seen villains inspired by popular media (Joker, Catwoman), the Ugliest Man in the World seems to predate the 1946 Rondo Hatton vehicle the Brute Man.
Bruce Wayne is meeting with businessman Larrimore and his partner when one of them drops dead, his face horribly distorted. From there a wave of riots hits Gotham City, the mob of disfigured people being by the titular man. When a doctor named Ekhart (who shares a similar name to the doctor who said be the best doctor in the world in 1942's Detective Comics#66) claims to be able to treat the victims of the mob.
Real name: None
A.K.A.: none
First Appearance: Batman I#3 (Fall 1940)
Abilities: Hypnosis
Weapons: drugs
Quotes: "Soon Dr. Craig will become a mere slave-a human puppet!"
Worst Act: Theft
Created by: Bill Finger (writer) and Bob Kane (artist-credited), Jerry Robinson/George Roussos(inks)
This particular yarn begins with Dr. Craig being the victim of a seeming accident, yet later he later steals his top secret formula and hands it over to a gang. Only with the intervention of Batman is the formula saved.
It seems the slight wound enables the Puppet Master to place the victim under an extreme state of suggestion, which is a problem as Batman himself was scratched. Can Robin stop his partner from committing unstoppable crimes?
Not a terrible villain, although his 'leftover peasant costume from a high school play' leaves something to be desired. The idea of hypnotizing people and forcing them to commit crimes would be better used by the Mad Hatter some time later.
Real name: None
A.K.A.: none
First Appearance: Detective Comics I#44 (October 1940)
Abilities: Giants
Weapons: Giant sized everything
Quotes: "Pepper! Oh my eyes!"
Worst Act: Being a cop-out
Created by: Bill Finger (writer) and Bob Kane (artist-credited), Jerry Robinson/George Roussos(inks)
I suppose one can forgive a copout. Batman had only been around for little over a year at this point, but the 'it was all a dream' was getting a little old even by 1940.
Basically Robin is reading a book on dwarves and giants. He starts to nod off when Batman arrives and whisks him off to a mad scientist who sends the two of them into the fourth dimension. Captured by a giant, they end up in a massive war between the giants and the dwarves. It looks like curtains for the caped crusaders when Robin wakes up.
Not the best yarn, but I suppose that can be forgiven given the time period.
Real name: Harvey Dent
A.K.A.: Harvey Kent, Apollo, Janus, Mr. Duall
First Appearance: Detective Comics I#66 (August 1942)
Abilities: Extensive knowledge of criminal law, hand to hand combat
Weapons: .22 pistol, two pistols at once, double-barrel shotgun
Quotes: "Two sides...handsome, like mine once were! Now one is scarred, ugly like mine!"
Worst Act: murder, stealing anything two related
Created by: Bill Finger (writer) and Bob Kane (artist-credited), Jerry Robinson/George Roussos(inks)
Breaking with the order somewhat, but given the date I felt this was the most appropriate choice.
Harvey Dent (Kent in the first few stories) was the dashing and crusading district attorney of Gotham City when "Boss" Moroni threw a bottle of acid into his face during his hearing. Batman deflected the bottle, making strike only one side of Dent's face, but the damage was done...
The early stories were the better ones I think. Two-Face was a character split right down the middle. With this two-headed coin, he could rob a jewelry store first then pay off a mortgage the next. The character had a proper end, with plastic surgery (and presumably a good lawyer) giving him a happy ending.
Two-Face would be brought back a few times, first with imposters, then Harvey himself getting scarred again (this time thanks to dynamite). The 60's would be coin free, although there were some plans to bring Two-Face onto the 1966 series.
Two-Face would make his big return in the 1970's and would stay more or less at the same level to the present day.
Personally I always enjoyed the idea of Two-Face more than the actual stories. A character that could be equally good or evil but with the flip of coin should be a pretty good story engine, yet with the start of the 80's the writers seem to turn Dent into just another thug, most of the time just flipping the coin and stealing things dealing with 2.
Frank Miller did introduce the concept that Dent, Gordon, and Batman were sort of the first hero team in Gotham, although Dent's role in Batman: Year One was shamefully short.
Real name: Bugs Norton
A.K.A.: none
First Appearance: Detective Comics I#43 (September 1940)
Abilities: knows politicians
Weapons: city government
Quotes: "If the Batman comes looking for trouble, he's going to get it!"
Worst Act: Corruption
Created by: Bill Finger (writer) and Bob Kane (artist-credited), Jerry Robinson/George Roussos(inks)
Superheroes tackling corruption in politics wasn't new (Superman made pretty much his first year going after lobbyists and others), so it's a bit odd that Batman would take so long before going after such a figure.
The story has been before (and after too), hero blows into town run by a corrupt boss figure and by various means ends up saving the simple townsfolk. That's pretty much the entire story, as Bugs Norton is the power behind the mayor Harliss Greer and Batman takes them down. The use of messages via bat is a fresh twist though.
Real name: Wylie
A.K.A.: none
First Appearance: Detective Comics I#42 (August 1940)
Abilities: Just a normal murder
Weapons: poison darts, knives
Quotes: "I've killed so many one more won't make any difference!"
Worst Act: Assault, murder
Created by: Bill Finger (writer) and Bob Kane (artist-credited), Jerry Robinson/George Roussos(inks)
Another proper mystery this time out. Mr. Ryder is your typical starving artist who has been forced to make portraits of various members of Gotham society just to keep the lights on.
Things are going fine, that is until the subjects of his paintings end up dying in ways that mirror the way the paintings are defaced. Can Bat man solve the case? He's better solve it fast, as Bruce Wayne's portrait has just been defaced...
Real name: Hackett and Sneed
A.K.A.: none
First Appearance: Batman I#2 (Summer 1940)
Abilities: Crooked businessmen, poor business sense
Weapons: Guns
Quotes: "If we could exhibit that giant we could make a million dollars! "
Worst Act: Assault, murder, stealing a giant
Created by: Bill Finger (writer) and Bob Kane (artist-credited), Jerry Robinson/George Roussos(inks)
Bit of an odd caper here. The whole story has a scientist named Drake being attacked by pygmies. Why is he being stalked? Because he stole their god, a giant living in the wilds of Africa that Drake believes is the missing link.
Naturally Drake does the most responsible thing and steals him away to America and makes him wear tuxedos. Crooked promotors Hackett & Sneed hear of this giant and think he'd be the perfect act, and they intend to get him be it hook or crook.
Not the worst Batman story ever, but at this point certainly the oddest. Hackett and Sneed are simply too plain to really stand out, although their plan to kidnap the giant and (somehow) make him work for them is original if not particularly thought out.
Real name: Ward
A.K.A.: none
First Appearance: Batman I#2 (Summer 1940)
Abilities: Just a normal murder
Weapons: Fake hook hand
Quotes: "Where are your smart quips now boy?"
Worst Act: Murder
Created by: Bill Finger (writer) and Bob Kane (artist-credited), Jerry Robinson/George Roussos(inks)
Now here we move back into the traditional murder mystery. The story kicks in when Harley Storme is murdered by a clubfooted man with a hook in lieu of a hand. The victim's will is read and that's when the other killings begin in earnest. Can Batman and Robin solve the case?
Pretty good, and the mystery actually plays pretty fair (if simple as there are only so many suspects).
Real name: Adam Lamb
A.K.A.: none
First Appearance: Batman I#2 (Summer 1940)
Abilities: Criminal genius at night
Weapons: Walking stick
Quotes: "No one can help you now!"
Worst Act: Murder, theft
Created by: Bill Finger (writer) and Bob Kane (artist-credited), Jerry Robinson/George Roussos(inks)
Certainly an interesting case here. Adam Lamb, meek curator for a private museum, is heading home one night when he trips on a rug, the last thing he sees before passing out is a portrait of a bat and a mystery novel called the Crime Master. When he comes to, he's now Wolf, a homicidal maniac and criminal genius.
Lamb is unaware of this though, only transforming at the stroke of midnight. Can Batman and Robin put a stop to his rampage?
A nice twist on the werewolf/Mr. Hyde archetype. This would be revisited a few more times at DC throughout the years, but I believe this was the first one.
Real name: Hugo Vreekill
A.K.A.: none
First Appearance: New York World's Fair#2 (July 1940)
Abilities: mad scientist
Weapons: steel melting machine
Quotes: "With my machine I can become the most powerful man in the world!"
Worst Act: blackmail
Created by: Bill Finger (writer) and Bob Kane (artist-credited), George Roussos(inks)
Here may be one of the more obscure villains. For a brief period of time DC made special time in comics to promote the World's Fair. When it was held in New York in 1940, a group of heroes were included to talk about how neat everything was, Batman included.
While visiting New York to take in the World's Fair, the Dynamic Duo hear about the Great West River Bridge collapsing. Investigating, they discover a scientist (Vreekill) who's developed a machine capable to melting steel. Vreekill is blackmailing the city by threatening over bridges plus he's going to free all the prisoners in the local pen. Can our heroes stop him in time?
Not terrible, but Vreekill is pretty much your standard mad scientist. He's motivated by money (and not 'making those fools pay') and that's it. He doesn't even survive the story.
Real name: Graves A.K.A.: none First Appearance: Detective Comics I#41(July 1940) Abilities: Counterfeiter Weapons: knife Quotes: "Yeah, and now so that this kid won't talk I'll fix him!" Worst Act: Murder and sabotaging a movie Created by: Bill Finger (writer) and Bob Kane (artist-credited), Jerry Robinson (inks)
This particular yarn is the first Batman story where Robin takes the focus. After hearing of a murder at a boy's prep school, Dick Grayson goes undercover to ferret out the killer. Is it the local escaped lunatic? Or is the faculty hiding a secret?
Not a bad little mystery, with more than a few red herrings thrown in for good measure.
Real name: Basil Karlo
A.K.A.: none
First Appearance: Detective Comics I#40 (June 1940)
Abilities: Master of disguise
Weapons: knife
Quotes: "The scene is finished-for death is the director!"
Worst Act: Murder and sabotaging a movie
Created by: Bill Finger (writer) and Bob Kane (artist-credited), Jerry Robinson (inks)
Here we have the last of the first year villains who's still active today. He's taken a few different shapes over the years, (in fact I think he is the first proper legacy villain Batman ever tangled with, fake Joker notwithstanding), but for this entry's sake we'll focus our attention on the first, Basil Karlo.
We're introduced to Karlo as he (and others) are on the set of the Terror, a talking remake of an early silent film which stared Karlo. Someone is bumping off the cast and crew, someone dressed like the character of Clayface, another character from another silent film which also starred Karlo.
Clayface is Karlo, so the mystery aspect is a bit lacking. The guy's motivation was still pretty unique, if underdeveloped. Did Karlo do other roles besides horror? Was he bitter at sound? Did he pal around with any of the other old time actors in the DCU? And why disguise himself as character that people identified with him anyway?
In any event, that was pretty much it for Karlo for a while. Professional scumbag Matt Hagan would take over the mantle in the 1960's, but Karlo would return sometime later now leading the Mud Pack. Thanks to Batman: The Animated Series most versions now combined Karlo with Hagan, but the original is still an interesting read.
Real name: N/A
A.K.A.: none
First Appearance: Detective Comics I#39 (May 1940)
Abilities: not many
Weapons: hatchets
Quotes: "Capture him! You are many! He is one man!"
Worst Act: Smuggling opium and murdering Mr. Wong
Created by: Bill Finger (writer) and Bob Kane (artist-credited), Jerry Robinson (inks)
Bit of a let-down when compared to the previous subjects. The Green Dragon Tongs (no member's names are given, nor backgrounds) are pretty much generic Chinese gang#2. The most notable thing they do, aside from kidnapping and smuggling opium (because of course they deal in opium) is murder Mr. Wong. Wong only had appearance before this issue, but he was shown as an ally of Batman in Gotham's Chinatown. Pity they killed the character off, as there could have been some story potential.
Back to the gang. They have no motivation other than being criminals and even the fight scenes are pretty basic. Truly a forgotten footnote.
Real name: Selina Kyle
A.K.A.: the Cat
First Appearance: Batman I#1 (Spring 1940)
Abilities: thief
Weapons: whips, guns
Quotes: "You and I- a king and queen of crime!"
Worst Act: Stealing anything feline related is generally frowned upon
Created by: Bill Finger (writer) and Bob Kane (artist-credited), Jerry Robinson (letters)
Once again character of whom much as been said.
Catwoman has been many things; out and out villain, anti-hero, and sometimes even a hero, yet she always goes back to stealing.
Even in the Golden Age there was clearly something intended, as at the end of her first appearance the Cat escaped (possibly with Batman's help). The idea of a villain flirting with a hero wasn't new at this point (see the Dragon Lady or the Princess Aura), but I personally felt it humanized Batman a bit.
She has been a steady in the series and the DC Universe overall since 1940. She even officially reformed in the 1950's (while saying she was a former air hostess who got amnesia) before changing her spots again. The 1966 TV series did a heck of a lot to cement the idea of a flirty yet dangerous thief (Julie Newmar in a skin tight bodysuit didn't hurt either). Lee Merriweather and Eartha Kitt chipped in too.
The 70's say her more or less where she was, not wholly evil yet not good. It would be the 80's and Frank Miller who would define her for the next ten years. Batman: Year One showed a Selina Kyle who was very much the opposite of Bruce Wayne, yet no less dangerous. The 90's would see her getting her own 94 issues series where she was more anti-hero than a pure villain.
She has been around as long as the Joker and had even more faces. The dance across the rooftops will continue for another generation.
Real name: (see comments)
A.K.A.: Jack Napier, Joseph Kurr, Jack White, the Red Hood, Oberon Sexton
First Appearance: Batman I#1 (Spring 1940)
Abilities: Chemical genius, thief
Weapons: Acid, guns, gags
Quotes: "If the police expect to play with the Joker, they had better expect to be dealt from the bottom of the deck!"
Worst Act: Too damn many to mention
Created by: Bill Finger (writer) and Bob Kane (artist-credited), Jerry Robinson(pencils/inks)
At this point, what can one say about the Joker that hasn't already been said? He's been everything from playful to homicidal, a clown prince of crime to a mountebank of mayhem. He's been terrorizing the good people of Gotham for 77 years and it's doubtful he's going away anytime soon.
In the 40's, the Joker was a killer, racking up a decent body count with his first appearance but mellowing out slightly throughout the decade. The 50's and 60's saw him more goofy and less homicidal. Cesar Romero's portrayal was spot on, but most of the character's manic ticks went to Gorshin's Riddler.
The 70's saw a return to form with the story "the Joker's Five-Way Revenge", but it would be Alan Moore that would cement the character's characterization for better or worse.
I suppose that's my biggest gripe with the character. Since the 80's nearly all the stories have been the same; the Joker shows up, kills the equivalent of small city, Batman argues that while he really wants to kill the clown he won't, (sometimes a supporting character dies), Joker goes to Arkham, wash rinse and repeat. There have been some exceptions, but when you can predict how a character is going to act exactly it takes the fun out of the story. Plus writers have been building him up so much you honestly wonder why anyone would live in a city where the chief cause of death is clown.
With the old stories there was usually something at the end (the Joker falling off a cliff, being in a burning building, etc.) with an explanation in the next story showing how the Joker survived. Now they just put him in Arkham. Next time he's out and there's nothing.
Writers back when the Comic Code was put into place were warned that reoccurring villains made the hero look ineffective. In the Joker's case I'd say they were right. Sure, Batman stops him, but he'll break out again/kill four digit plus number of people. When the straw man characters/violent parodies make a better argument than your hero, you have some problems.
There is something about the character though. His origin or lack thereof actually does work. Who cares what his backstory is? His present is what the character focus on, but then that ties into his current problems.
Real name: Tony Zucco
A.K.A.: Tony "Fats" Zucco
First Appearance: Detective Comics I#38(April1940)
Abilities: Threatening circuses
Weapons: Acid, guns
Quotes: "I'm the boss of this town, see!"
Worst Act: Murdering a pair of trapeze artists
Created by: Bill Finger (writer) and Bob Kane (artist-credited), Jerry Robinson(pencils/inks)
Now here's a character that has been overshadowed by a certain red and green supporting character.
Boss Zucco was introduced as a fairly typical (a la Edward G. Robinson) mobster. When extorting money from Haley's Circus fails, he arranges for a certain accident to happen to the Flying Grayson act. The accident is witnessed by Bruce Wayne, who takes an interest in the surviving Grayson.
Robin has certainly made an impact on the Bat-mythos, so as such Zucco will always be around in some fashion. Notably whenever they retell Dick Grayson's origin there is usually an appearance, most recently Dark Victory and the new 52.
Real name: Elias Turg
A.K.A.: Count Grutt
First Appearance: Detective Comics I#37(March 1940)
Abilities: Spy
Weapons: Knives
Quotes: "Yes! But You'll never live to tell anyone about it!"
Worst Act: Leading a spy ring
Created by: Bill Finger (writer) and Bob Kane (artist-credited), Jerry Robinson(pencils/inks)
After Hugo Strange, surely the follow up villain would prove to be a challenge, right?
Not really, no. Honestly the villain really does show up until the end. Until then, Batman has more trouble from a guy named Joey. Joey is being tortured by a gang of thugs when the Batman intervenes...and is knocked out for his help.
Turns out the gang leader Turg is actually passing himself off as the Count Grutt and they are in the ploy of a foreign power. Grutt tries to kill the Batman, but only succeeds in stabbing himself in the neck.
The next issue would feature the debut of someone a bit better received than the Count.
Real name: Hugo Strange
A.K.A.: Dr. Victor Absonus
First Appearance: Detective Comics I#36(February1940)
Abilities: Mad scientist
Weapons: Fear powder, Monster Men, etc.
Quotes: "You cowardly fool!"
Worst Act: See the aforementioned fear powder and Monster Men
Created by: Bill Finger (writer) and Bob Kane (artist-credited), Sheldon Moldoff (pencils/inks)
Now here we have the first of the Golden Age foes to make a comeback. Hugo Strange was the star of a trilogy of stories, each of them featuring the good doctor unleashing a mad threat upon the citizens of Gotham (fog, Monster Men, and fear powder; the last one a bit before the Scarecrow too).
At the end of several stories Strange fell seemingly to his death, but he always returned until the last one (#46).
That would be it for the doctor until he was brought back in the 1970's. Surviving his fall, he still practices mad science until he discovers Batman's secret identity. He tries to auction it off, but corrupt politician Rupert Thorne tries to beat it out of him. Strange seemingly dies, but then his ghost begins to haunt Thorne...or does he?
The Earth-2 line had a slightly different take, explaining that Strange was left hopelessly mangled from his fall in #46 and now wants revenge on Batman and everything he holds dear.
From there Strange's biggest storyline would be the Post-Crisis Doug Moench penned yarn "Prey" which featured a slightly different take. Instead of a traditional mad scientist, Moench made Strange a mad psychiatrist with a fixation on Batman. Like in the 1970's stories Strange figures out Bruce Wayne's secret, although subsequent stories would go back to the well, with Strange figuring out the secret and Batman tricking him at the last minute, sometimes with Strange apparently dying.
He's made his comeback in the new 52 and DC Rebirth, so it doesn't appear that he's going anyway anytime soon, at least until he gets near the edge of any tall structures.
Real name: Sheldon Lennox
A.K.A.: Sin Fang
First Appearance: Detective Comics I#35 (January 1940)
Abilities: Leader of the Cult of Kila
Weapons: House of torture
Quotes: "You...Alive!"
Worst Act: Faking his death and leading a murder cult
Created by: Bill Finger (writer) and Bob Kane (artist-credited), Sheldon Moldoff (pencils/inks)
Here we have a slightly different type of villain. When the story starts we are introduced to Mr. Weldon, a businessman. He's in the grip of terror, but mostly for the man Sheldon Lennox. Lennox sold him a ruby idol of the Hindu deity Kila (not a real deity, but I suppose Finger could be excused given the state of reference materials in 1940). The cult that worshipped the idol wants it back. They've threatened to kill Lennox and then Weldon unless he gives it back. When the police rush to Lennox's house, they find the cult in retreat, the grisly proof of their visit evident.
After that, Batman investigates a fence ring run by the enigmatic Sin Fang, who has stolen the idol. But why does Sin Fang want the statue so badly?
The story is pretty good, although the racial aspect of Lennox's disguise has not aged well.
Real name: The Duc D'Orterre
A.K.A.: None
First Appearance: Detective Comics I#34 (December 1939)
Abilities: Leader of the Apache gang
Weapons: Wheel of Chance and his torture garden
Quotes: "I will open the ceiling gate and let him into my flower garden."
Worst Act: Burning away a guy's face is pretty rotten
Created by: Gardner Fox (writer) and Bob Kane (artist-credited), Sheldon Moldoff (pencils/inks)
Batman goes international in this one, fighting a leader of the infamous Apache gang of Paris. The real gang was more or less forgotten by the 1930's, but the visual of the stripped shirt and slim daggers made a large cultural impact.
The Duc was a pretty rotten fellow. Obsessing over Karel Marie, he kidnapped her brother Charles and burned off his face. The Duc also had some neat torture devices, benefitting his evil nobleman status. He died at the end of his story and so far no one seems to be arguing for his come back.
Real name: Carl Kruger
A.K.A.: None
First Appearance: Detective Comics I#33 (November 1939)
Abilities: Leader of the Scarlet Horde
Weapons: Fully armed airships
Quotes: "Master of the world, another Napoleon..."
Worst Act: Bombing Gotham City from the air
Created by: Gardner Fox/Bill Finger (writer) and Bob Kane (artist-credited), Sheldon Moldoff (letters)
Probably the most notable things from issue 33 is the first proper telling of Batman's origin, but as to the story itself Kruger is a mad man obsessed with Napoleon. He also has airships and bombs Gotham to rubble.
He has a neat visual certainly, and his schemes are certainly big scale. No blackmail here, no, he's going for wide scale destruction. The Batman, and his Bat-gyro, make short work of him and by the end of the tale he's stone dead.
Real name: (see comments)
A.K.A.: None
First Appearance: Detective Comics I#31 (September 1939)
Abilities: vampire/werewolf
Weapons: vampires and werewolves
Quotes: "Soon your Julie will be as we are..."
Worst Act: Being a vampire and werewolf
Created by: Gardner Fox (writer) and Bob Kane (artist-credited)
That would be the last appearance until 1982 when Gerry Conway brought the Monk and Dala back, this time with the origin of being Louis DuBois and his sister Dala. Cruel plantation owners who were cursed by their abused former slaves shortly after the Civil War, the story was basically an Earth-1 update of the first story.
Matt Wagner brought the Monk back for his wonderful Batman and the Mad Monk miniseries, which was basically another update on the story. Worth the effort to read for sure. Wagner added another take on the character, this time a bit more vague. Is his an actual vampire or a former son of Gotham turned cult leader? The story doesn't say one way or another.
Real name: Dr. Karl Hellfern
A.K.A.: None
First Appearance: Detective Comics I#29 (July 1939)
Abilities: mad scientist
Weapons: poison
Quotes: "A crime such as ours must be sure to attract his attention"
Worst Act: Murder
Created by: Bill Finger (writer) and Bob Kane (artist-credited). Gardner Fox is also sometimes credited
And here we have (arguably) the first proper super villain Batman ever faced. More of a throw back (or straight usage given the time period) to the old pulp mad scientists, Dr. Death made his debut by threatening the wealthy of Gotham City to pay him a handsome fee or else he'd poison them.
The dear doctor was also the first reappearing villain, returning from his seeming demise in DetectiveComics I#30 (August 1939), only now looking like a brown skeleton thanks to his lab blowing up in the previous issue.
This would be his last appearance until 1982, when writer Gerry Conway brought him back using the same methods as before. He would stay gone until 2002, when his brought out of mothballs to face Batgirl in her own series. Since then he has mostly stayed as a background character, using popping up in scenes of mad science or various crime dens in Gotham.
Real name: Frenchy Blake
A.K.A.: None
First Appearance: Detective Comics I#28 (June 1939)
Abilities: Decent cat burglar
Weapons: Gun
Quotes: "One good thing though, the cops think the "Bat-Man" is on it"
Worst Act: Murder and theft
Created by: Bill Finger (writer) and Bob Kane (artist-credited).
Truly the Pat Benatar of Batman's Rouge's Gallery. A common cat burglar with his own gang, "Frenchy" and his gang were easily dispatched by the Batman, who killed quite a few members before dangling Blake out of a window.
To the best of my knowledge Frenchy hasn't made a single appearance since 1939, so he isn't exactly high on anyone's top ten lists.
Real name: Alfred Stryker
A.K.A.: None
First Appearance: Detective Comics I#27 (May 1939)
Abilities: No powers, but seemed comfortable with a gun.
Weapons: Gun
Quotes:-"Sure...I did it! But you won't send me to the 'chair' for it!"
Worst Act: Well, homicide and attempted homicide are pretty bad.
Created by: Bill Finger (writer) and Bob Kane (artist-credited).
Founding Apex Chemical with his three partners, Stryker got a bit greedy and decided to eliminate them to inherit the company. Pity he decided to do this in Gotham City...
You think for the very first villain ever fought he'd be bigger presence in the Batman series. The story "the Case of the Chemical Syndicate" has been referenced only a few times since then. The first was Batman's 30th anniversary in 1969, which was more or less a retelling. In 1991 the story was remade for the Post-Crisis, with two different retellings. One casting him as a disfigured victim and the other a straight out villain. The last time we saw him (maybe) would be in 2014, with a cameo in the New 52.
So, what exactly can one say about Alfred Stryker? The story is fairly pedestrian. One could easily sub out any of the dozen masked heroes that were running or flying at the time. Not the most exciting story or character, but for historical importance he can't be ignored.
